November 3, 2020
Kumbia Race Club has been holding meetings on Melbourne Cup Day for 50 years … which is why a visit to the “Flemington Of The Bush” has become an annual ritual for many South Burnett residents.
The pandemic couldn’t stop the annual celebration on Tuesday, although everyone had to sign in, of course, and spectators were limited to just 1000.
The golden anniversary of Cup Day racing also coincided with another major milestone: Huston Motors have been sponsoring racing at Kumbia for, you guessed it, 50 years.
Race Club president Brian Lenihan thanked Hustons for being “super sponsors” over the years but said due to COVID-19 the extra-special celebrations that had been planned to mark the occasion had been postponed until next year.
Bookmakers were kept busy in the ring with punters eager to wager on the Melbourne Cup plus the local races and Doomben.
The warm weather meant volunteers in the canteen and bar were also working hard – but everyone agreed the sunshine was better than last year’s gale-force winds!
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington and husband Jason were also enjoying a relaxing day at the races after months of election campaigning.
Deb was a sponsor of Race 2 and also placed a bet on the winner – possibly an omen pick after the weekend result? – which easily romped home.
For the second year in a row, the Kumbia Races took part in “Pinking Up The South Burnett” to promote breast cancer awareness and raise funds for the McGrath Foundation.
The Fashions Of The Field theme was “A Dash Of Pink” and racegoers complied with pink dresses, hats, handbags, shirts, ties … and even toenails!
Winner of the Most Stylish Lady (Over 45) was Verelle O’Shanesy, from Kingaroy, while the Under 45 title was a tie between Amelia Dalton, from Cushnie, and Amy Smoothy, from Glencliffe.
Shane Hamilton won the Best Dressed Gentleman category with runner-up Darryl Dove, from Kingaroy.
The all-important Kumbia Cup (Race 5) was won by ‘Rather Salubrious’, trained and part-owned by David Reynolds, from Dalby.
The five-year-old mare has now qualified to race in the Country Cups Challenge at Doomben on December 5.
Winner of Race 1, five-year-old gelding ‘Diggity’ owned by the Black family at Burrandowan, qualified to take part in the Country Stampede which will be raced at Doomben on the same day.
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Race Results
Race 1 – Country Stampede Qualifier Open Quality Handicap (1000m)
1. Diggity (7) – Isabella Teh
2. Music Scene (8) – Leeanne McCoy
3. Metro Tramp (9) – Girish Goomany
Margins: 3 lengths x nose
Race 2 – QTIS Maiden Plate (1200m)
1. Miss Nasty (9) – Girish Goomany
2. Zou Zou Kacanarkis (6) – Hannah Richardson
3. Suzy Needs Lovin’ (10) – Isabella Teh
Margins: 1 3/4 lengths x length
Race 3 – Joyce, Boy & Jenny Reed Memorial Burnett To The Valley Class 2 Plate (1200m)
1. Valar Dohaeris (2) – Ty Wheeler
2. Forgotten Feeling (3) – Girish Goomany
3. Miss Ready Now (4) – Louise Dillon
Margins: 3 1/2 lengths x neck
Race 4 – Jim Lenihan/Helen Smoothy/Win Lenihan Memorial BenchMark 50 Handicap (1400m)
1. Craiglea Arion (5) – Louise Dillon
2. Run Pam Run (1) – Leeanne McCoy
3. Cash Bundle (2) – Girish Goomany
Margins: 1 3/4 lengths x length
Race 5 – Country Cups Challenge Qualifier/Huston Motors Kumbia Cup Open Handicap (1400m)
1. Rather Salubrious (5) – Leeanne McCoy
2. Chamberlain (7) – Tessa Townsend
3. Red Devil (6) – Hannah Richardson
Margins: 3/4 length x neck
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